Missouri is honeycombed with more than 7,300 documented caves – nationally second only to Tennessee – that are deep and long enough to warrant exploration. Explorers find more every year. And who knows how many private land owners are secretly sitting on caves in order to avoid traffic, trespassing and liability, experts say.

Have you been feeling dull and out of sorts lately, with none of your regular energy? Have you been putting on pounds, struggling to fasten buttons or zip up zippers, even though you're not eating any more than you normally do? Do you find yourself often irritable and unable to concentrate? Are your fingernails growing slower?

There's this misinterpretation of workout culture – that it's a "fitspo"-only club meant to alienate and trigger anyone who doesn't align with traditional beauty standards. Though, those impressions directly stem from damaging and oppressive discourse surrounding women's bodies which, as a collective culture, we're only now beginning to speak out against.

As a kid, Larry Ellifritz, Jr. remembers watching his father race snowmobiles near Priest Lake in Idaho. Mostly, Ellifritz was a loyal son, watching and cheering as his father hurtled around the icy corners of the track.

When climbing season comes around (June through September), novices look to 14,265-foot Quandary Peak as the way to break into Colorado's fourteener craze. None of the state's 54 summits above 14,000 feet should be viewed as easy, but this one outside Breckenridge is considered relatively friendly to fit beginners. That is because it requires no technical skill; the top can be reached on foot, as long as the hiker has the leg strength and lung capacity. Following Quandary's "standard" route along the east ridge, you'll reach the summit in just 3 miles. But don't take the journey lightly.

Buying a bike can be intimidating. Much like buying a car, you can be overwhelmed with choices. Then comes the sticker shock. The Specialized Diverge E5 isn't for every rider – no bike is – but it does hit a sweet spot that should appeal to a lot of cyclists. The road bike is designed to also be ridden on gravel trails and fire roads, in addition to asphalt, making it a go-anywhere type of bike. You'll find more tire clearance than most traditional road bikes, giving you more room for mud, and slightly thicker tires provide more stability. It has mounts for three water bottle holders (as well as mounts for racks and fenders), making it a good option for touring or longer commutes.

While diverse body types are becoming increasingly visible in beauty advertisements every day, when asked to picture a "model body," a pretty specific (and unattainable) image still comes to mind. I asked the Byrdie edit team to name the physical qualities they associate with a model body, and among them were a tiny waist, long legs, and smooth skin. Despite the ever-expanding body diversity movement, this is still the image we most often see portrayed in beauty and fashion ads, and thus, the image we associate with perfection. It's hard not to feel insecure in comparison.

For many people going for a run is an escape. You don't necessarily want to get every text message or status update beeping in your ear when using your phone to play music. The Mighty music player allows you to escape the beeping – and bulk – that comes with carrying your phone on the run while still allowing you to listen to your Spotify playlist.

There are 195 countries in the world, many that can be envisioned before ever stepping foot on foreign soil. And then there's Hokkaido, a destination within a destination that will take every preconceived notion you have about Japan and crumple it into a little ball. In its place will be snow, more snow and the champagne powder that has turned sleepy farm towns into the next big thing since Whistler.

If anyone had an excuse for not being fit, that could very well be Kent Rathbun. He grew up in a family of "large people," he says, "who spelled gym J-I-M. My parents were like a lot of parents. They were smokers, they ate terribly, and nobody worked out."

How serious are you about a sport you play or an activity you're passionate about? Are you serious enough to train for it; to work on building the major muscle groups used in that sport or activity? If so, and if you want to get even better at your passion, don't depend solely on practicing or on sessions at the gym. Pick a sport you can use for cross training.

Colorado's population continues to boom, meaning a lot of beginners will be trying Colorado activities for the first time with each new season. One of the most alluring is summiting one of the state's iconic fourteeners. If this is on your summer bucket list, here are a few things you should know before you hit the trailhead.

James McGaley led a six-person snowshoeing expedition at Swampy Lakes Sno-park on a recent afternoon. Wearing snowboarding jackets and matching tan snow pants, the group of friends resembled a web-footed caterpillar as they trundled in their snowshoes through a knee-deep trail broken by other snowshoers.